2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The effects of leaf litter phytochemistry on the structure and functioning of microbial decomposer communities.
| Project/Area Number |
22K15186
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| Research Institution | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University |
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Principal Investigator |
ARMITAGE David 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 統合群集生態学ユニット, 准教授 (40912390)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | phytochemistry / ecology / community |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Fieldwork is underway on surveying the phytochemistry of our 24 field sites. So far, we have used nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and mass spectrometry to chemically characterize over 100 of Okinawa's dominant tree, grass, and shrub species. We have discovered strong phylogenetic signal in phytochemistry and are currently refining methods for identifying specific chemical compounds in these complex mixtures. One research paper related to the publications (a perspectives paper on spatial scaling in plant microbial ecology) has been published, and two invited seminars have been delivered at international venues.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Difficulties and delays in securing permissions to conduct fieldwork (collecting and surveying plants) at our sites have delayed the project. Permissions have been obtained for 12 of the 24 sites and discussions are ongoing to access the rest.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
This summer will see our team of 4 researchers spending more time in the field collecting plants for chemical analysis, as well as refining our mass spectrometry protocol to more precisely quantify the types and number of compounds in our samples. Some collaborative work is also in progress which will develop a new method for quantifying chemical diversity in plants using mass spec and NMR spectra.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Usage will be dedicated to further phytochemical analysis (purchase of d4 methanol ) and DNA sequencing costs.
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